JAKE DAWSON

The next picture Rose picks up is of herself holding a tiny baby…the son she had with Jack. Another memory that’s as clear in her mind as if it happened yesterday…

It was a dreary and cold day…a day that reminded Rose Dawson of Titanic. She couldn’t believe that it was just nine months ago that she had met the love of her life and lost him all in such a short period of time. But at least she had his baby and his spirit here to keep his memory alive.

Sighing deeply Rose stands up to head for her room when it happens…her water breaks. She couldn’t believe it was happening so fast. Sure she had been suffering a terrible backache all day, but she never thought it was labor. Quickly slipping on her raincoat and grabbing the suitcase she had packed for the stay in the hospital she heads for the door when there’s a knock.

"Who can that be?" Rose breathed, trying to keep herself calm. She opens the door to see a kindly young man with blond hair and blue eyes smiling at her. He almost looked like Jack, but he was more brawny and his hair was curly, not straight.

"Excuse me Miss. I hate to interrupt you here on such a rainy night but I’m new to this building and I was wondering if you can tell me where room 358 was located," He politely asked.

"Do you have a car or a carriage or something?" Rose gasped as a sharp pain grasped her abdomen. The baby was wanting to make it’s entrance soon and she didn’t have much time for niceties.

"Excuse me?" The man blinked in confusion.

"Car. Do you have a car. If you haven’t noticed I’m going to have a baby any minute now and I need to get to an hospital!" Rose breathes.

"Oh. A car! Yes, right this way," The man grabs her arm and leads her downstairs and outside to ironically a Renault. Rose had to laugh at this. The model car where this baby was concieved was the same model of the one that was going to get her to the hospital to deliver.

"Mam?" The man asked, wondering why she was laughing.

"I’m okay. Just drive," Rose directs.

Five minutes later Rose is in stirrups screaming and pushing. A couple of times she looked to her side and could have sworn she saw Jack standing next to her, a concerned smile on his face, but she’s sure it was her imagination. Besides, with the way she was feeling right now, it was best that Jack was dead or she’d be ready to kill him herself for putting her in this situation.

"Come on now Mrs. Dawson. Push!" The doctor ordered.

"I can’t!" Rose cried. "I can’t do it anymore!"

That’s when she heard the soft whisper, "never let go. Rose. No matter how hopeless…never let go."

Gathering up the strength she had left, Rose pushed and a little cry ranged out in the room.

"It’s a boy! You have a beautiful baby boy!" The doctor exclaimed triumphantly.

Rose laughed in happiness. A boy. Just what she wanted. She smiled as the baby was put in her arms and sighed happily as she noticed the blond fuzz on top of it’s head and the bright blue of it’s eyes. The baby looked so much like his father.

"What’s his name?" One of the nurses came up next to Rose.
Again a tiny voice speaks into her ear. "Jake."

Rose smiled. "Jake. His name is Jake Fabrizio Dawson."

The nurse nods and holds up a camera. "Do you mind?"

"Oh of course not. Go ahead," Rose smiles, holding the baby so it could be fully seen in the photograph. She could have sworn that she felt a hand on her shoulder as the picture was taken.

Present day…

Rose grins at the picture of her first-born son Jake. He was such a good boy…so much like his father. Rose again peers closely at the picture and spots what she was looking for. Jack. He was of course there, setting beside her, a hand on her shoulder, looking down at his son with pride and love shining in his eyes. Rose wished Jack was able to be there physically for Jake, but she knew that he was there the best way he knew how and that’s what mattered.

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